Toner case and image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A toner case includes a case main body, a cover, and an agitating member. The case main body is configured to contain a toner and to rotate. The cover is configured to cover an opening part arranged at the case main body and to maintain a rotation stop state when the case main body rotates, the cover having a communication space which communicates with an inside space of the case main body via the opening part. The agitating member is configured to rotate integrally with the case main body and to agitate the toner in the communication space.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese patent application No. 2016-077199 filed on Apr. 7, 2016, whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a toner case and an image formingapparatus including the toner case.

An electrographic image forming apparatus performs a developing processby supplying a toner (a developer) from a developing device to anelectrostatic latent image formed on a surface of an image carrier (forexample, a photosensitive drum). The toner used for such a developingprocess is supplied from a toner case to the developing device. Theabove-mentioned toner case includes, for example, a case main bodyconfigured to contain a toner and to rotate.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a toner caseincludes a case main body, a cover, and an agitating member. The casemain body is configured to contain a toner and to rotate. The cover isconfigured to cover an opening part arranged at the case main body andto maintain a rotation stop state when the case main body rotates, thecover having a communication space which communicates with an insidespace of the case main body via the opening part. The agitating memberis configured to rotate integrally with the case main body and toagitate the toner in the communication space.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an imageforming apparatus includes the toner case and an attachment part towhich the toner case is attached.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the present disclosure is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of a structure of an MFP(a multifunction peripheral) according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a black toner container and eachtoner supplying attachment part according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the black toner container accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a rear part of the black tonercontainer according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view seen from a left front side and showing theblack toner container according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen from a right front side and showingthe black toner container according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a section along a VII-VII line ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the black toner containeraccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a case main body and an agitatingmember of the black toner container according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the black toner container according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11A is a side view showing a state that a first lever is in a firstposition, in the black toner container according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 11B is a side view showing a state that the first lever is in asecond position, in the black toner container according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a state that a second lever is in athird position, in the black toner container according to the embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 12B is a side view showing a state that the second lever is in afourth position, in the black toner container according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a cyan toner container according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a rear part of each tonersupplying attachment part according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a rear part of each tonercontainer and a rear part of each toner supplying attachment partaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a waste toner bottle according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a waste toner collecting attachment partaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a state that the black tonercontainer is attached to the black toner supplying attachment part, inthe MFP according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing a state that the waste toner bottleis attached to the waste toner collecting attachment part, in the MFPaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a rear part of a black tonercontainer according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an MFP 1 (an image formingapparatus) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Arrows Fr, Rr, L, R, U and Lo optionally added to eachdrawing indicate a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side,an upper side and a lower side of the MFP 1, respectively.

First, an outline of a structure of the MFP 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a box-formed MFP main body 2 (anapparatus main body). In an upper end part of the MFP main body 2, animage reading device 3 to read an original image is arranged. In anupper part of the MFP main body 2, a sheet ejecting tray 4 is arrangedbelow the image reading device 3.

In a roughly center part of the MFP main body 2, an intermediatetransfer belt 5 is housed. At a left end side of the intermediatetransfer belt 5, a cleaning mechanism 6 is arranged.

In the roughly center part of the MFP main body 2, four image formingparts 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y are housed below the intermediate transfer belt 5.Each image forming part 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y corresponds to a toner (adeveloper) of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. Each imageforming part 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y includes a photosensitive drum 8 (an imagecarrier), a charger 9, a developing device 10, a primary transfer roller11, and a cleaning device 12. The primary transfer roller 11 sandwichesthe intermediate transfer belt 5 with the photosensitive drum 8, so thata primary transfer nip N1 is formed between the intermediate transferbelt 5 and the photosensitive drum 8.

In a lower part of the MFP main body 2, an exposure device 13 is housedbelow the four image forming parts 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y. In a lower end partof the MFP main body 2, a sheet feeding tray 14 is housed below theexposure device 13. In the sheet feeding tray 14, a sheet S (a recordingmedium) is accommodated.

At a right side part of the MFP main body 2, a conveying path 15 of thesheet S is arranged. At a lower end part (an upstream end part) of theconveying path 15, a sheet feeding part 16 is arranged. At anintermediate stream part of the conveying path 15, a secondary transferroller 17 is arranged. Between the secondary transfer roller 17 and theintermediate transfer belt 5, a secondary transfer nip N2 is formed. Atan upper part (a downstream part) of the conveying path 15, a fixingdevice 18 is arranged. At an upper end part (a downstream end part) ofthe conveying path 15, a sheet ejecting unit 19 is arranged.

In the upper part of the MFP main body 2, four toner containers 21K,21C, 21M, 21Y (toner cases) are housed below the sheet ejecting tray 4.Each toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y contains the toner of black,cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. Each toner container 21K, 21C,21M, 21Y is detachably attached to each toner supplying attachment part22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y, respectively. In a left end part of the MFP mainbody 2, a waste toner bottle 23 (a toner case) is housed. The wastetoner bottle 23 contains a waste toner. The waste toner bottle 23 isdetachably attached to a waste toner collecting attachment part 24.

Next, an operation of the MFP 1 having such a structure will bedescribed.

When an instruction to start printing is given to the MFP 1, an imageforming operation is carried out as follows. First, a surface of thephotosensitive drum 8 is electrically charged by the charger 9. Then, anelectrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of thephotosensitive drum 8 by a laser light (refer to an arrow P in FIG. 1)from the exposure device 13. Then, the toner supplied from each tonercontainer 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y is supplied from the developing device 10to the photosensitive drum 8, so that the electrostatic latent imageformed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 is developed and atoner image is carried by the photosensitive drum 8. The toner image isprimarily transferred on a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5at the primary transfer nip N1. Such an operation is carried out in eachimage forming part 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y, so that a full-color toner image isformed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. Incidentally, the wastetoner remained on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 after theimage forming operation is collected by the cleaning device 12.

On the other hand, the sheet S picked from the sheet feeding tray 14 bythe sheet feeding part 16 is conveyed to a downstream side of theconveying path 15 and enters the secondary transfer nip N2. In thesecondary transfer nip N2, the full-color toner image formed on theintermediate transfer belt 5 is secondarily transferred to the sheet S.Incidentally, the waste toner remained on the surface of theintermediate transfer belt 5 after a secondary transfer operation isremoved by the cleaning mechanism 6.

The sheet S to which the toner image is secondarily transferred isfurther conveyed to the downstream side of the conveying path 15 andenters the fixing device 18. In the fixing device 18, the toner image isfixed on the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed isejected on the sheet ejecting tray 4 by the sheet ejecting unit 19.

Next, each toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y will be further described.Incidentally, an arrow I optionally assigned to FIG. 2 and eachsubsequent figure indicates an inside in a front and rear direction ofeach toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y, and an arrow O optionallyassigned to FIG. 2 and each subsequent figure indicates an outside inthe front and rear direction of each toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y.

As shown in FIG. 2, each toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y is attachedto each toner supplying attachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y,respectively, along an attachment direction X directed from the frontside to the rear side. Hereinafter, “a near side in the attachmentdirection” or “a far side in the attachment direction” indicates thenear side or the far side in the attachment direction X. Incidentally,FIG. 2 shows a state that only the toner container 21K is beingattached, and shows a state that attachment of the toner containers 21C,21M, 21Y has been finished.

First, the toner container 21K (a black toner container) will bedescribed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and other figures, the toner container 21Kincludes a case main body 25, a transmission member 26 which is attachedto a rear part of the case main body 25, a cover 27 which is arranged ata rear side of the transmission member 26, a seal member 28 which isaccommodated in a substantially center part of the cover 27, and anagitating member 29 which is fixed to a rear end part of the case mainbody 25. Hereinafter, these members will be described in order.

First, the case main body 25 of the toner container 21K will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, the case main body 25 is formed ina cylindrical shape elongated in the front and rear direction. That is,the front and rear direction is a longitudinal direction of the casemain body 25 in the present embodiment. The case main body 25 isconfigured to rotate around a rotation axis line Y extending in thefront and rear direction. That is, the front and rear direction is adirection of the rotation axis line of the case main body 25 in thepresent embodiment.

A toner containing space P is formed inside the case main body 25. Ablack toner (not shown) is contained in the toner containing space P.Incidentally, an arrow Z in FIGS. 3 and 4 indicates a toner conveyingdirection (hereinafter, referred to as a “toner conveying direction Z”)in the toner containing space P. Hereinafter, “an upstream side in thetoner conveying direction” or “a downstream side in the toner conveyingdirection” indicates the upstream side or the downstream side in thetoner conveying direction Z.

As shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, the case main body 25 includes aknob part 31, a large diameter cylinder part 32 which is arranged at arear side (the downstream side in the toner conveying direction) of theknob part 31, a middle diameter cylinder part 33 which is arranged at arear side (the downstream side in the toner conveying direction) of thelarge diameter cylinder part 32, and a small diameter cylinder part 34which is arranged at a rear side (the downstream side in the tonerconveying direction) of the middle diameter cylinder part 33.

The knob part 31 of the case main body 25 is arranged at a front endpart (a near side end part in the attachment direction) of the case mainbody 25. The knob part 31 has the smallest outer diameter among eachpart of the case main body 25. An inside space of the knob part 31communicates with an inside space of the large diameter cylinder part 32so as to form a part of the toner containing space P. The knob part 31includes a tubular part 35 extending along the attachment direction X,and a closing part 36 which closes a front end part (a near side endpart in the attachment direction) of the tubular part 35. The tubularpart 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis lineY. The diameter of the tubular part 35 expands toward the front side(the near side in the attachment direction). The closing part 36 isformed in a disk shape.

The large diameter cylinder part 32, the middle diameter cylinder part33, and the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the case main body 25 areformed in cylindrical shapes around the rotation axis line Y. The middlediameter cylinder part 33 is arranged between the large diametercylinder part 32 and the small diameter cylinder part 34. An outerdiameter R2 of the middle diameter cylinder part 33 is smaller than anouter diameter R1 of the large diameter cylinder part 32, and is largerthan an outer diameter R3 of the small diameter cylinder part 34. Lengthof the middle diameter cylinder part 33 in the front and rear directionis shorter than length of the large diameter cylinder part 32 in thefront and rear direction, and is longer than length of the smalldiameter cylinder part 34 in the front and rear direction.

On an outer circumferential face of the case main body 25, asubstantially annular first stepped part 37 is arranged between thelarge diameter cylinder part 32 and the middle diameter cylinder part33, and a spiral second stepped part 38 is arranged between the middlediameter cylinder part 33 and the small diameter cylinder part 34. Astep size (i.e. a difference between the outer diameter R1 of the largediameter cylinder part 32 and the outer diameter R2 of the middlediameter part 33) of the first stepped part 37 is smaller than a stepsize (i.e. a difference between the outer diameter R2 of the middlediameter cylinder part 33 and the outer diameter R3 of the smalldiameter cylinder part 34) of the second stepped part 38.

A single spiral conveying rib 39 is continuously arranged on innercircumferential faces of the large diameter cylinder part 32, the middlediameter cylinder part 33, and the small diameter cylinder part 34 ofthe case main body 25. The conveying rib 39 protrudes in a substantiallyV shape from an inner circumferential face of the case main body 25toward an inside in a radial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, the conveying rib 39 of thecase main body 25 includes a plurality of first reinforcement parts 41and a plurality of second reinforcement parts 42 at intervals in aspiral direction. Each first reinforcement part 41 and each secondreinforcement part 42 are alternately arranged in the spiral directionof the conveying rib 39. Each first reinforcement part 41 and eachsecond reinforcement part 42 protrude in substantially V shapes from theconveying rib 39 toward an outside in the radial direction. Each firstreinforcement part 41 is located along a first standard straight lineSL1 extending along the attachment direction X, and each secondreinforcement part 42 is located along a second standard straight lineSL2 extending along the attachment direction X. As shown in FIG. 7, thesecond standard straight line SL2 is located at an opposite side of thefirst standard straight line SL1 across the rotation axis line Y.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, at a front part of an outercircumferential face of the large diameter cylinder part 32 of the casemain body 25 (a near side part in the attachment direction of the outercircumferential face of the entire case main body 25), a first fingerplacing part 43 is formed along the first standard straight line SL1 anda second finger placing part 44 is formed along the second standardstraight line SL2. The first and second finger placing parts 43, 44 arearranged so that a worker who attaches the toner container 21K to thetoner supplying attachment part 22K can place his/her fingers thereon.The first and second finger placing parts 43, 44 are composed ofcircular grooves. The first and second finger placing parts 43, 44 arelocated so that they do not overlap with the conveying rib 39.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, at a rear part of the outercircumferential face of the large diameter cylinder part 32 of the casemain body 25 (a substantially center part of the outer circumferentialface of the entire case main body 25), a first attachment directionpointing part 45 is formed along the first standard straight line SL1,and a second attachment direction pointing part 46 is formed along thesecond standard straight line SL2. The first and second attachmentdirection pointing parts 45, 46 are composed of arrow-shaped groovespointing the attachment direction X. The first and second attachmentdirection pointing parts 45, 46 are located so that they do not overlapwith the conveying rib 39.

As shown in FIG. 6 and other figures, at a substantially center part ofthe outer circumferential face of the large diameter cylinder part 32 ofthe case main body 25 (a near side part in the attachment direction ofthe outer circumferential face of the entire case main body 25), anindicator part 47 is formed along the second standard straight line SL2.The indicator part 47 is formed between the second finger placing part44 and the second attachment direction pointing part 46. The indicatorpart 47 is composed of a substantially rectangular shape groove. Forexample, an indication (not shown) related to a material of the casemain body 25 is written on the indicator part 47. The indicator part 47is located so that it does not overlap with the conveying rib 39.

As shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, a first engagement protrusion 48(a first rotation restricting part) is arranged on an outercircumferential face of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the casemain body 25 (a far side part in the attachment direction of the outercircumferential face of the entire case main body 25). The firstengagement protrusion 48 is located so that it does not overlap with theconveying rib 39. As shown in FIG. 9 and other figures, a secondengagement protrusion (a second rotation restricting part) is formed onthe outer circumferential face of the small diameter cylinder part 34 ofthe case main body 25 (a far side part in the attachment direction ofthe outer circumferential face of the entire case main body 25). Thesecond engagement protrusion 49 is located so that it overlaps with theconveying rib 39. As shown in FIG. 10 and other figures, the first andsecond engagement protrusions 48, 49 are located on a plane F includingthe rotation axis line Y and the first and second standard straightlines SL1, SL2. The second engagement protrusion 49 is located at anopposite side of the first engagement protrusion 48 across the rotationaxis line Y.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and other figures, a first protruding part 51(a first movement restricting part) and a second protruding part 52 (asecond movement restricting part) are formed on the outercircumferential face of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the casemain body 25 (a far side part in the attachment direction of the outercircumferential face of the entire case main body 25). The first andsecond protruding parts 51, 52 are located so that they do not overlapwith the conveying rib 39. As shown in FIG. 10 and other figures, thesecond protruding part 52 is formed at an opposite side of the firstprotruding part 51 across the rotation axis line Y. The first and secondprotruding parts 51, 52 are located so that their circumferentialpositions are displaced 90 degrees from the first and second engagementprotrusions 48, 49. That is, the first and second engagement protrusions48, 49 and the first and second protruding parts 51, 52 are located sothat their circumferential positions do not overlap with each other.

As shown in FIG. 9 and other figures, a circular opening part 53 isformed at a rear end part of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of thecase main body 25 (a far side end part in the attachment direction andone end part in the front and rear direction of the entire case mainbody 25). An annular flange part 54 is formed at the rear end part ofthe small diameter cylinder part 34 and at an outer circumference of theopening part 53. The flange part 54 protrudes toward the outside in theradial direction.

Next, the transmission member 26 of the toner container 21K will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the transmission member 26 isattached to the outer circumferential face of the small diametercylinder part 34 of the case main body 25. The transmission member 26 isformed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis line Y.

The transmission member 26 includes a large diameter part 55, a middlediameter part 56 which is arranged at a rear side (the outside in thefront and rear direction) of the large diameter part 55, and a smalldiameter part 57 which is arranged at a rear side (the outside in thefront and rear direction) of the middle diameter part 56. The outerdiameter of each part of the transmission member 26 becomes small inorder of the large diameter part 55, the middle diameter part 56 and thesmall diameter part 57. A front end part of the large diameter part 55(an inside end part in the front and rear direction of the entiretransmission member 26) faces the first and second protruding parts 51,52 of the case main body 25. A transmission gear 61 is arranged on theouter circumferential face of the large diameter part 55. As shown inFIG. 3 and other figures, a diameter Rg of the transmission gear 61 issmaller than the outer diameter R1 of the large diameter cylinder part32 of the case main body 25 and the outer diameter R2 of the middlediameter cylinder part 33 of the case main body 25, and is larger thanthe outer diameter R3 of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the casemain body 25.

As shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, a plurality of engagement ribs 62are formed on inner circumferential faces of the large diameter part 55and the middle diameter part 56 of the transmission member 26 atintervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of theengagement ribs 62, the number of which is ten to twenty, for example,are formed at equal intervals. A plurality of the engagement ribs 62 areprovided over an entire area of an inner circumferential face of thetransmission member 26. A plurality of the engagement ribs 62 extendalong the front and rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5 and otherfigures, the first engagement protrusion 48 of the case main body 25 isinserted into the interval between one pair of the engagement ribs 62among a plurality of the engagement ribs 62. As shown in FIG. 6 andother figures, the second engagement protrusion 49 of the case main body25 is inserted into the interval between another pair of the engagementribs 62 different from the one pair of the engagement ribs 62 among aplurality of the engagement ribs 62. According to such a configuration,a rotation of the transmission member 26 with respect to the case mainbody 25 is restricted. Incidentally, the engagement ribs 62 other thanthe above-mentioned two pairs of the engagement ribs 62 (the engagementribs 62 arranged so that the first and second engagement protrusions 48,49 are not inserted into the intervals thereof) function asreinforcement parts which reinforce the transmission member 26.

Next, the cover 27 of the toner container 21K will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, the cover 27 covers the openingpart 53 formed in the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the case mainbody 25. The length Lc of the cover 27 in an upper and lower directionis shorter than the outer diameter R1 of the large diameter cylinderpart 32 of the case main body 25 and the outer diameter R2 of the middlediameter cylinder part 33 of the case main body 25, and is longer thanthe outer diameter R3 of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of the casemain body 25.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and other figures, the cover 27 includes a mainbody part 63, a holding part 64 which extends from the main body part 63toward the front side (the inside in the front and rear direction andthe near side in the attachment direction), an engagement cylinder part65 which protrudes from a rear lower part of the main body part 63 tothe rear side (the outside in the front and rear direction and the farside in the attachment direction), a cover side restricting part 66which is arranged at an upper side of the engagement cylinder part 65, acover side shutter 67 which is arranged at a lower side of the main bodypart 63, the holding part 64, and the engagement cylinder part 65, asupporting part 68 which extends from the main body part and the holdingpart 64 toward the upper side, a display part 70 and a first lever 71(see FIG. 5 and other figures) which are arranged at a left side of thesupporting part 68, and a second lever 72 (see FIG. 6 and other figures)which is arranged at a right side of the supporting part 68.

As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, a communication space Q whichcommunicates with the toner containing space P of the case main body 25via the opening part 53 of the case main body 25 is formed inside themain body part 63 of the cover 27. The communication space Q extendsalong the upper and lower direction. The main body part 63 includes atoner introducing port 73 which is formed at an upper front side of thecommunication space Q. The main body part 63 includes an annularpedestal part 74 at a circumference of the toner introducing port 73.The main body part 63 includes an inclined wall part 75 closer to a rearside (the outside in the front and rear direction) than the tonerintroducing port 73. The inclined wall part 75 is inclined to the lowerside toward the rear side (the outside in the front and rear direction).The main body part 63 includes a toner discharging port 76 at a lowerend side of the communication space Q.

The holding part 64 of the cover 27 is formed in a substantiallycylindrical shape around the rotation axis line Y. The holding part 64and the first and second protruding parts 51, 52 of the case main body25 sandwich the transmission member 26. According to such aconfiguration, a movement in the front and rear direction of thetransmission member 26 with respect to the case main body 25 isrestricted, and the transmission member 26 is prevented from droppingfrom the case main body 25.

The holding part 64 of the cover 27 includes a large diameter frame part78 and a small diameter frame part 79 which is arranged at a rear side(the outside in the front and rear direction) of the large diameterframe part 78. An outer diameter of the large diameter frame part 78 islarger than an outer diameter of the small diameter frame part 79. Thesmall diameter part 57 of the transmission member 26 is inserted into aninside in the radial direction of the large diameter frame part 78. Afront end part of the large diameter frame part 78 faces a rear end partof the middle diameter part 56 of the transmission member 26, and afront end part of the small diameter frame part 79 faces a rear end partof the small diameter part 57 of the transmission member 26.

As shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, the small diameter frame part 79of the holding part 64 of the cover 27 has four locking parts 82 atupper and lower parts of the left side and the right side. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, each locking part 82 locks the flangepart 54 (the far side end part in the attachment direction and the oneend part in the front and rear direction) of the case main body 25.According to this, the holding part 64 holds the flange part 54 of thecase main body 25. The small diameter frame part 79 has window parts 83at the rear side (the outside in the front and rear direction) of thelocking parts 82.

As shown in FIG. 10 and other figures, the engagement cylinder part 65of the cover 27 includes a pair of left and right sidewall parts 84, anupper wall part 85 which connects upper end parts of a pair of the leftand right sidewall parts 84, and a lower wall part 86 which connectslower end parts of a pair of the left and right sidewall parts 84. Apair of the left and right sidewall parts 84 are formed in substantiallyvertical flat shapes and face each other. The upper wall part 85 iscurved in an arc shape toward the upper side. The lower wall part 86 isformed in a substantially horizontal flat shape.

A recess part 87 (a cover side engagement part) is formed inside theengagement cylinder part 65 of the cover 27. As shown in FIG. 4 andother figures, the recess part 87 is formed in a rear face (a far sideface in the attachment direction and an outside face in the front andrear direction) of the cover 27. The recess part 87 extends along theattachment direction X and the front and rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 10 and other figures, the cover side restricting part66 of the cover 27 includes a fitting protrusion 88, a plurality of(eight in the present embodiment) base parts 89 which are formed at anouter circumference of the fitting protrusion 88, and a plurality of(four in the present embodiment) restricting plates 90 which arearranged at a part of a plurality of base parts 89. The fittingprotrusion 88 is formed on the rotation axis line Y. Each base part 89is arranged on a circumference G around the fitting protrusion 88, and alower end part of this circumference G overlaps with the recess part 87of the engagement cylinder part 65. The four right base parts 89 of theeight base parts 89 of the toner container 21K according to the presentembodiment is provided with the restricting plates 90. By contrast withthis, the toner container 21K whose place of destination is differentfrom that of the toner container 21K according to the present embodimentdiffers from the present embodiment in a combination of the base parts89 provided with the restricting plates 90. Incidentally, therestricting plates 90 is arranged at a part of a plurality of the baseparts 89 by providing the restricting plates 90 to all of a plurality ofthe base parts 89 and then removing a part of the restricting plates 90or by fixing the restricting plates 90 only to a part of a plurality ofthe base parts 89, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, the cover side shutter 67is formed in a shape elongated in the front and rear direction. Thecover side shutter 67 includes a fixed piece 91, and a movable piece 92which is supported by the fixed piece 91. Incidentally, FIG. 4 does notshow the fixed piece 91 and schematically shows the movable piece 92.The movable piece 92 is configured to move along the front and reardirection between an opening position (see a solid line in FIG. 4) toopen the toner discharging port 76 of the main body part 63 and aclosing position (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) to close the tonerdischarging port 76 of the main body part 63.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and other figures, the supporting part 68 ofthe cover 27 includes a pair of left and right supporting plates 93, anda connecting plate 94 which connects upper end parts of a pair of theleft and right supporting plates 93. A pair of the left and rightsupporting plates 93 face each other. A lower end part of eachsupporting plate 93 is connected with the main body part 63 and theholding part 64 of the cover 27. A through hole 95 is formed at a frontright corner part of the connecting plate 94.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B and other figures, the display part 70 ofthe cover 27 is composed of a rectangular label. A back face of thedisplay part 70 is adhered to a left side face of the left supportingplate 93 of the supporting part 68. A color different from a color ofmembers (e.g. the main body part 63, the holding part 64, the supportingpart 68, and the first lever 71 of the cover 27) around the display part70 is applied to a surface of the display part 70. In the presentembodiment, red is applied to the surface of the display part 70, andblack is applied to the members around the display part 70.

The first lever 71 of the cover 27 includes a first base plate 96, and afirst protrusion piece 97 which protrudes from a rear part of the firstbase plate 96 toward the left side (the outside in the left and rightdirection). The first lever 71 is supported by the left supporting plate93 so that the first lever 71 moves along a left side face of the leftsupporting plate 93 of the supporting part 68. The first lever 71 isconfigured to move along the front and rear direction between a firstposition (see FIG. 11A) and a second position (see FIG. 11B) closer tothe front side than the first position.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B and other figures, the second lever 72 ofthe cover 27 includes a second base plate 100, and a second protrusionpiece 101 which protrudes from a rear part of the second base plate 100toward the right side (the outside in the left and right direction). Thesecond lever 72 is supported by the right supporting plate 93 so thatthe second lever 72 moves along a right side face of the rightsupporting plate 93 of the supporting part 68. The second lever 72 isconfigured to move along the front and rear direction between a thirdposition (see FIG. 12A) and a fourth position (see FIG. 12B) closer tothe front side than the third position.

Next, the seal member 28 of the toner container 21K will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the seal member 28 is arranged atthe front side (the inside in the front and rear direction) of the mainbody part 63 of the cover 27 and at the inside in the radial directionof the holding part 64 of the cover 27. The seal member 28 is formed inan annular shape. The seal member 28 is interposed between the flangepart 54 of the case main body 25 and the pedestal part 74 of the mainbody part 63 of the cover 27 in a compressed state. The seal member 28is fixed to a front face (an inside face in the front and reardirection) of the pedestal part 74.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 and other figures, the seal member 28 includesan elastic layer 103, a first adhesive layer 104 which is arranged at arear side (the outside in the front and rear direction) of the elasticlayer 103, a base material layer 105 which is arranged at a rear side(the outside in the front and rear direction) of the first adhesivelayer 104, and a second adhesive layer 106 which is arranged at a rearside (the outside in the front and rear direction) of the base materiallayer 105. The elastic layer 103 is composed of polyurethane foam whichis an elastic material, for example. The first adhesive layer 104 iscomposed of a double-sided tape, for example, so as to adhere theelastic layer 103 and the base material layer 105. The base materiallayer 105 is composed of a material having a higher rigidity than thepolyurethane foam which composes the elastic layer 103. The basematerial layer 105 is composed of a resin film, for example. The secondadhesive layer 106 is composed of a double-sided tape, for example, soas to adhere the base material layer 105 and the pedestal part 74 of themain body part 63 of the cover 27.

As shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B and other figures, a part of theseal member 28 is exposed to the outside via the window parts 83 formedin the holding part 64 of the cover 27. Hence, the part of the sealmember 28 can be visually checked from the outside.

Next, the agitating member 29 of the toner container 21K will bedescribed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 and other figures, the agitating member 29 isarranged closer to the rear side (the outside in the front and reardirection) than the case main body 25. The agitating member 29 iscomposed of a material having a lower friction coefficient than that ofthe case main body 25. The agitating member 29 is composed of a resinfilm, for example.

The agitating member 29 includes a fixed part 107, an extending part 108which extends from the fixed part 107 toward the inside in the radialdirection, and an inserted part 109 which extends from an inside endpart in the radial direction of the extending part 108 toward the rearside (the outside in the front and rear direction and the side of thecommunication space Q).

The fixed part 107 of the agitating member 29 is formed in an annularshape. A front face (an inside face in the front and rear direction) ofthe fixed part 107 is fixed to the rear end part of the small diametercylinder part 34 of the case main body 25 (the one end part in the frontand rear direction of the entire case main body 25). A fixing face H onwhich the rear end part of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of thecase main body 25 and the fixed part 107 are fixed is vertical to therotation axis line Y. A rear face (an outside face in the front and reardirection) of the fixed part 107 comes into contact with a front face(an inside face in the front and rear direction) of the elastic layer103 of the seal member 28. Thus, the fixed part 107 is interposedbetween the rear end part of the small diameter cylinder part 34 of thecase main body 25 and the elastic layer 103 of the seal member 28.

The inserted part 109 of the agitating member 29 protrudes toward therear side (the outside in the front and rear direction and the side ofthe communication space Q) with respect to the fixed part 107 and theextending part 108. A base end part of the inserted part 109 is bent atan obtuse angle from the inside end part in the radial direction of theextending part 108 to the rear side (the outside in the front and reardirection and the side of the communication space Q) so as to penetratethe seal member 28. A distal end part of the inserted part 109 isinserted into the communication space Q of the main body part 63 of thecover 27. The distal end part of the inserted part 109 is located rightabove the toner discharging port 76 formed in the main body part 63 ofthe cover 27. The distal end part of the inserted part 109 is curved inan arc shape.

Next, the toner containers 21C (cyan toner container), 21M (magentatoner container) and 21Y (yellow toner container) will be described.Incidentally, each toner container 21C, 21M, 21Y employs the sameconfiguration, and therefore only the toner container 21C will bedescribed below and descriptions of the toner containers 21M, 21Y willbe omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13 and other figures, the toner container 21C includesa case main body 111, a transmission member 112 which is attached to arear part of the case main body 111, a cover 113 which is arranged at arear side of the transmission member 112, a seal member 114 which isaccommodated at a substantially center part of the cover 113, and anagitating member 115 which is fixed to a rear end part of the case mainbody 111.

Configurations of the transmission member 112, the seal member 114 andthe agitating member 115 of the toner container 21C are the same asconfigurations of the transmission member 26, the seal member 28 and theagitating member 29 of the toner container 21K, and therefore will notbe described. Further, a configuration of the cover 113 of the tonercontainer 21C is the same as a configuration of the cover 27 of thetoner container 21K except that the cover 113 does not include the firstand second levers 71, 72, and therefore will not be described. Hence,only the case main body 111 of the toner container 21C will be describedbelow.

The case main body 111 includes a knob part 116, a large diametercylinder part 117 which is arranged at a rear side (the downstream sidein the toner conveying direction) of the knob part 116, and a smalldiameter cylinder part 118 which is arranged at a rear side (thedownstream side in the toner conveying direction) of the large diametercylinder part 117. An outer diameter R4 of the large diameter cylinderpart 117 is larger than an outer diameter R5 of the small diametercylinder part 118.

As shown in FIG. 13 and other figures, a stepped part 119 (a movementrestricting part) is arranged on an outer circumferential face of thecase main body 111 between the large diameter cylinder part 117 and thesmall diameter cylinder part 118. The stepped part 119 includes a spiralpart 121, and a plane part 122 which is arranged at a rear side (thedownstream side in the toner conveying direction) of the spiral part121. The spiral part 121 is formed in a spiral shape inclined withrespect to the front and rear direction. The plane part 122 is formed ina planar shape vertical to the front and rear direction. A part (anupper part in FIG. 13) of the plane part 122 and the holding part 64 ofthe cover 113 sandwich the transmission member 112. According to such aconfiguration, a movement in the front and rear direction of thetransmission member 112 with respect to the case main body 111 isrestricted, and the transmission member 112 is prevented from droppingfrom the case main body 111. The configuration of the case main body 111other than the above is the same as the case main body 25 of the tonercontainer 21K, and therefore will not be described.

Next, the toner supplying attachment parts 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, the toner supplying attachmentparts 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y are aligned in the left and right direction.Each of the toner supplying attachment parts 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y isformed in a tubular shape extending in the front and rear direction. Aninner diameter of the toner supplying attachment part 22K is larger thaninner diameters of the toner supplying attachment parts 22C, 22M, 22Y.

As shown in FIG. 14 and other figures, an attachment part siderestricting part 132 is arranged at a rear end part of each tonersupplying attachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y. The attachment part siderestricting part 132 includes a cylindrical fitted part 133, and aplurality of (e.g. four) restricting pieces 134 which are arranged at anouter circumference of the fitted part 133. The four restricting pieces134 are arranged at a left side of a center of the fitted part 133 ineach toner supplying attachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y according to thepresent embodiment. By contrast with this, positions at which aplurality of restricting pieces 134 are arranged in each toner supplyingattachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y of the MFP main body 2 whose place ofdestination is different from that of the MFP main body 2 according tothe present embodiment are different from those of the presentembodiment.

A toner supplying port 135 is formed in a rear part of a lower face ofeach toner supplying attachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y. The tonersupplying port 135 of each toner supplying attachment part 22K, 22C,22M, 22Y communicates with an inside space of the developing device 10of each image forming part 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y via a supply tube 136extending along the upper and lower direction.

An attachment part side shutter 137 is arranged at a rear part of eachtoner supplying attachment part 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y. The attachment partside shutter 137 includes a shutter main body 138 and a boss 139 (anattachment part side engagement part) which is arranged at a front side(the near side in the attachment direction) of the shutter main body138.

The attachment part side shutter 137 of each toner supplying attachmentpart 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y is configured to move along the front and reardirection between an opening position at which the shutter main body 138opens the toner supplying port 135 and a closing position at which theshutter main body 138 closes the toner supplying port 135.

As shown in FIG. 15 and other figures, a driving source 146 composed ofa motor or the like is arranged at a rear side of the toner supplyingattachment parts 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y. A first driving gear 147 isarranged between the toner supplying attachment part 22K and the tonersupplying attachment part 22C. The first driving gear 147 is connectedwith the driving source 146 via a gear train 148 and a first drivingshaft 149. A second driving gear 151 is arranged between the tonersupplying attachment part 22M and the toner supplying attachment part22Y. The second driving gear 151 is connected with the driving source146 via the gear train 148 and a second driving shaft 152. An idle gear153 is arranged between the toner supplying attachment part 22C and thetoner supplying attachment part 22M.

Next, the waste toner bottle 23 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 16 and other figures, the waste toner bottle 23 isformed by reversing upper and lower sides of the toner container 21K. Aconfiguration of the waste toner bottle 23 is the same as theconfiguration of the toner container 21K and therefore will not bedescribed.

Next, the waste toner collecting attachment part 24 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 17 and other figures, the waste toner collectingattachment part 24 is formed in a tubular shape extending in the frontand rear direction. A disposal tube 154 extending along the upper andlower direction is arranged at a rear upper side of the waste tonercollecting attachment part 24.

An operation of attaching the toner containers 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y to thetoner supplying attachment parts 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y, respectively, inthe MFP 1 configured as mentioned above will be described. Incidentally,the operation of attaching each toner container 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Y isthe same, and therefore only the operation of attaching the tonercontainer 21K to the toner supplying attachment part 22K will bedescribed and the operations of attaching the toner containers 21C, 21M,21Y to the toner supplying attachment parts 22C, 22M, 22Y, respectively,will not be described.

The toner container 21K is inserted into the toner supplying attachmentpart 22K from the front side to the rear side as shown in FIG. 2 andother figures, when the toner container 21K is attached to the tonersupplying attachment part 22K.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the toner container 21K is further insertedinto the toner supplying attachment part 22K in this state and the tonercontainer 21K is attached to the toner supplying attachment part 22K,the main body part 63 of the cover 27 presses the boss 139 in a statethat the recess part 87 formed at the engagement cylinder part 65 of thecover 27 of the toner container 21K and the boss 139 of the attachmentpart side shutter 137 of the toner supplying attachment part 22K engagewith each other. This press moves the attachment part side shutter 137from the closing position to the opening position so as to open thetoner supplying port 135 of the toner supplying attachment part 22K.

Further, when the toner container 21K is attached to the toner supplyingattachment part 22K as mentioned above, the movable piece 92 of thecover side shutter 67 arranged at the cover 27 of the toner container21K moves from the closing position to the opening position so as toopen the toner discharging port 76 of the main body part 63 of the cover27. Therefore, the communication space Q of the main body part 63communicates with an inside space of the supply tube 136.

Further, when the toner container 21K is attached to the toner supplyingattachment part 22K as mentioned above, the fitting protrusion 88 formedat the cover side restricting part 66 of the cover 27 of the tonercontainer 21K fits to the fitted part 133 formed at the attachment partside restricting part 132 of the toner supplying attachment part 22K.Incidentally, when a place of destination of the MFP main body 2 and aplace of destination of the toner container 21K match, each restrictingplate 90 arranged at the cover side restricting part 66 of the cover 27and each restricting piece 134 (see FIG. 14 and other figures) arrangedat the attachment part side restricting part 132 of the toner supplyingattachment part 22K do not interfere with each other so that attachmentof the toner container 21K to the toner supplying attachment part 22K isallowed. Meanwhile, when the place of destination of the MFP main body 2and the place of destination of the toner container 21K do not match,each restricting plate 90 arranged at the cover side restricting part 66of the cover 27 and each restricting piece 134 arranged at theattachment part side restricting part 132 of the toner supplyingattachment part 22K interfere with each other so that attachment of thetoner container 21K to the toner supplying attachment part 22K isrestricted.

Further, when the toner container 21K is attached to the toner supplyingattachment part 22K as mentioned above, the transmission gear 61 of thetransmission member 26 of the toner container 21K is directly connectedwith the first driving gear 147 as shown in FIG. 15 and other figures.

Incidentally, when the toner containers 21C, 21M, 21Y are attached tothe toner supplying attachment parts 22C, 22M, 22Y, respectively, thetransmission gears 61 of the transmission members 112 of the tonercontainers 21M, 21Y are directly connected with the second driving gear151. Further, the transmission gears 61 of the transmission members 112of the toner containers 21C, 21M are connected with the idle gear 153.Thus, the transmission gear 61 of the transmission member 112 of thetoner container 21C is connected with the second driving gear 151 viathe transmission gear 61 of the transmission member 112 of the tonercontainer 21M and the idle gear 153.

Next, an operation of supplying a toner from the toner container 21K tothe developing device 10 of the image forming part 7K in the MFP 1configured as mentioned above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15 and other figures, the driving source 146 is drivenin a state that the toner container 21K is attached to the tonersupplying attachment part 22K when the toner is supplied from the tonercontainer 21K to the developing device 10 of the image forming part 7K.When the driving source 146 is driven in this way, rotation drivingforce of the driving source 146 is transmitted to the first driving gear147 via the gear train 148 and the first driving shaft 149 so as torotate the first driving gear 147. That is, the first driving gear 147rotates by the rotation driving force of the driving source 146.

When the first driving gear 147 rotates in this way, the rotation of thefirst driving gear 147 is transmitted to the transmission member 26 ofthe toner container 21K so as to rotate the transmission member 26. Whenthe transmission member 26 rotates in this way, the case main body 25 ofthe toner container 21K rotates integrally with the transmission member26 in accordance with this rotation. That is, the transmission member 26transmits the rotation driving force of the driving source 146 to thecase main body 25.

When the case main body 25 of the toner container 21K rotates asmentioned above, the agitating member 29 (see FIG. 18 and other figures)of the toner container 21K rotates integrally with the case main body25. Meanwhile, the cover 27 and the seal member 28 of the tonercontainer 21K do not rotate when the case main body 25 rotates, andmaintains a rotation stop state. Therefore, the case main body 25 andthe agitating member 29 relatively rotate with respect to the cover 27and the seal member 28, and the fixed part 107 of the agitating member29 slides with respect to the elastic layer 103 of the seal member 28.

Further, when the case main body 25 of the toner container 21K rotatesas mentioned above, the toner in the case main body 25 is conveyed bythe conveying rib 39 of the case main body 25 from the front side to therear side as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 18 and is discharged fromthe case main body 25 via the opening part 53. The toner discharged fromthe case main body 25 via the opening part 53 in this way is introducedto the communication space Q of the main body part 63 of the cover 27via the toner introducing port 73. The toner introduced to thecommunication space Q in this way is agitated by the inserted part 109of the agitating member 29 which rotates integrally with the case mainbody 25, and is discharged from the communication space Q via the tonerdischarging port 76 of the main body part 63 as indicated by an arrow Bin FIG. 18. The toner discharged from the communication space Q via thetoner discharging port 76 in this way is introduced to the supply tube136 via the toner supplying port 135 of the toner supplying attachmentpart 22K, and is supplied from the supply tube 136 to the developingdevice 10 of the image forming part 7K.

Next, an operation of supplying a toner from the toner containers 21C,21M, 21Y to the developing devices 10 of the image forming parts 7C, 7M,7Y in the MFP 1 configured as mentioned above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15 and other figures, the driving source 146 is drivenin a state that the toner containers 21C, 21M, 21Y are attached to thetoner supplying attachment parts 22C, 22M, 22Y, respectively, when thetoner is supplied from the toner containers 21C, 21M, 21Y to thedeveloping devices 10 of the image forming parts 7C, 7M, 7Y,respectively. When the driving source 146 is driven in this way, therotation driving force of the driving source 146 is transmitted to thesecond driving gear 151 via the gear train 148 and the second drivingshaft 152 so as to rotate the second driving gear 151. That is, thesecond driving gear 151 rotates by the rotation driving force of thedriving source 146.

When the second driving gear 151 rotates in this way, the rotation ofthe second driving gear 151 is transmitted to the transmission members112 of the toner containers 21M, 21Y so as to rotate the transmissionmembers 112 of the toner containers 21M, 21Y. Further, the rotation ofthe second driving gear 151 is transmitted to the transmission member112 of the toner container 21C via the transmission member 112 of thetoner container 21M and the idle gear 153 so as to rotate thetransmission member 112 of the toner container 21C. The other functionsare the same as those of the operation of supplying the toner from thetoner container 21K to the developing device 10 of the image formingpart 7K and therefore will not be described.

Next, an operation of collecting a waste toner from the intermediatetransfer belt 5 and the photosensitive drum 8 of each image forming part7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y by the waste toner bottle 23 in the MFP 1 configured asmentioned above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the waste toner is collected, the transmissionmember 26 of the waste toner bottle 23 is rotated in a state that thewaste toner bottle 23 is attached to the waste toner collectingattachment part 24. When the transmission member 26 rotates in this way,the case main body 25 of the waste toner bottle 23 rotates integrallywith the transmission member 26, and the agitating member 29 of thewaste toner bottle 23 rotates integrally with the case main body 25.

Further, when the waste toner is collected, the cleaning mechanism 6collects the waste toner from the intermediate transfer belt 5 and thecleaning device 12 of each image forming part 7K, 7C, 7M, 7Y collectsthe waste toner from the photosensitive drum 8. The waste tonercollected by the cleaning mechanism 6 and the cleaning device 12 in thisway is conveyed to the disposal tube 154 via a disposal duct (notshown). The waste toner conveyed to the disposal tube 154 in this way isintroduced from the disposal tube 154 to the communication space Q ofthe cover 27 of the waste toner bottle 23 as indicated by an arrow C inFIG. 19. The waste toner introduced to the communication space Q of thecover 27 in this way is agitated by the agitating member 29 whichrotates integrally with the case main body 25, and is introduced fromthe communication space Q of the cover 27 to the toner containing spaceP of the case main body 25. The waste toner introduced to the tonercontaining space P of the case main body 25 in this way is conveyed fromthe rear side to the front side by the conveying rib 39 of the case mainbody 25 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 19, and is contained in thecase main body 25.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, after the black toner containedin the toner containing space P of the case main body 25 of the tonercontainer 21K becomes empty, upper and lower sides of the tonercontainer 21K are reversed, so that the toner container 21K is used asthe waste toner bottle 23.

Hereinafter, effects exhibited by the MFP 1 according to the presentembodiment and modifications of the MFP 1 according to the presentembodiment will be further described in detail. Incidentally, the commoneffects and modifications of the toner containers 21K, 21C, 21M, 21Ywill be described only regarding the toner container 21K, and theeffects and modifications of the toner containers 21C, 21M, 21Y will beomitted.

The toner container 21K according to the present embodiment includes theagitating member 29 which rotates integrally with the case main body 25and agitates the toner in the communication space Q of the cover 27. Byapplying such a configuration, the agitating member 29 agitates thetoner in the communication space Q of the cover 27, so that it ispossible to prevent the toner from congealing in the communication spaceQ of the cover 27.

According to the present embodiment in particular, the toner in thetoner containing space P of the case main body 25 is conveyed by theconveying rib 39 in accordance with the rotation of the case main body25 of the toner container 21K, so that the toner hardly congeals in thetoner containing space P of the case main body 25. Meanwhile, the cover27 of the toner container 21K maintains a rotation stop state when thecase main body 25 rotates, and therefore the toner is likely to congealin the communication space Q of the cover 27. Hence, it is highlyimportant that the agitating member 29 agitates the toner in thecommunication space Q of the cover 27 as mentioned above to prevent thetoner from congealing in the communication space Q of the cover 27.

According to the present embodiment in particular, when the agitatingmember 29 of the toner container 21K rotates, the inserted part 109 ofthe agitating member 29 comes into contact with a front face (innerface) of the inclined wall part 75 of the main body part 63 of the cover27 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 18). Consequently, it is possibleto scrape the toner sticking to the front face of the inclined wall part75 by the inserted part 109 of the agitating member 29, and it ispossible to more effectively prevent the toner from congealing in thecommunication space Q of the cover 27.

Further, the opening part 53 of the case main body 25 of the tonercontainer 21K is formed at the rear end part of the case main body 25,and the agitating member 29 includes the fixed part 107 which is fixedto the rear end part of the case main body 25 and the inserted part 109which protrudes toward the rear side (the side of the communicationspace Q) with respect to the fixed part 107 and whose distal end part isinserted into the communication space Q. By applying such aconfiguration, it is possible to effectively agitate the toner in thecommunication space Q of the cover 27.

Further, the agitating member 29 of the toner container 21K is composedof a material having a lower friction coefficient than that of the casemain body 25, and the fixed part 107 of the agitating member 29 isinterposed between the rear end part of the case main body and the sealmember 28. By applying such a configuration, it is possible to enhancesliding performance of the case main body 25 and suppress friction ofthe seal member 28 compared to a case where the case main body 25 andthe seal member 28 come into direct contact with each other.

The agitating member 29 of the toner container 21K includes theextending part 108 which extends from the fixed part 107 toward theinside in the radial direction, and the inserted part 109 extends fromthe inside end part in the radial direction of the extending part 108toward the rear side (the side of the communication space Q). Byapplying such a configuration, it is possible to locate the insertedpart 109 close to the inside in the radial direction compared to a casewhere the inserted part 109 extends from the fixed part 107 toward therear side (the side of the communication space Q). According to this, itis possible to prevent the inserted part 109 and the cover 27 from beingcaught up by each other.

Further, the fixing face H on which the rear end part of the case mainbody 25 of the toner container 21K and the fixed part 107 are fixed isvertical to the rotation axis line Y. By applying such a configuration,it is possible to easily fix the fixed part 107 to the rear end part ofthe case main body 25.

Further, the distal end part of the inserted part 109 formed at theagitating member 29 of the toner container 21K is located right abovethe toner discharging port 76 formed in the main body part 63 of thecover 27. By applying such a configuration, the toner agitated by theagitating member 29 in the communication space Q drops by the weight ofthe toner, and is discharged from the toner discharging port 76.Consequently, it is possible to more effectively discharge the toner inthe communication space Q.

In the present embodiment, the inserted part 109 of the agitating member29 of the toner container 21K extends from the inside end part in theradial direction of the extending part 108 toward the rear side (theside of the communication space Q). In other embodiments, as shown inFIG. 20, the inserted part 109 of the agitating member 29 of the tonercontainer 21K may extend from the fixed part 107 toward the rear side(the side of the communication space Q). By applying such aconfiguration, it is possible to simplify the structure of the agitatingmember 29, compared to a case where the extending part 108 is arrangedbetween the fixed part 107 and the inserted part 109.

In the present embodiment, the inserted part 109 is bent at an obtuseangle from the extending part 108. In other embodiments, as shown inFIG. 20, the inserted part 109 may be bent orthogonally from the fixedpart 107 or the extending part 108. Further, in still other embodiments,the inserted part 109 may be bent at an acute angle from the fixed part107 or the extending part 108.

In the present embodiment, when the agitating member 29 of the tonercontainer 21K rotates, the inserted part 109 of the agitating member 29comes into contact with the inclined wall part 75 of the main body part63 of the cover 27. In other embodiments, when the agitating member 29of the toner container 21K rotates, the inserted part 109 of theagitating member 29 may not come into contact with the inclined wallpart 75 of the main body part 63 of the cover 27. By applying such aconfiguration, it is possible to prevent the inserted part 109 of theagitating member 29 and the inclined wall part 75 from being caught upby each other.

In the present embodiment, a single inserted part 109 is arranged at theagitating member 29. In other embodiments, a plurality of inserted parts109 may be arranged at the agitating member 29.

In the present embodiment, the agitating member 29 includes the insertedpart 109 at least a part of which is inserted into the communicationspace Q. In other embodiments, the agitating member 29 may include bothof the inserted part 109 at least a part of which is inserted into thecommunication space Q and an inserted part (not shown) at least a partof which is inserted into the toner containing space P.

In the present embodiment, the four right base parts 89 of the eightbase parts 89 of the toner container 21K are provided with therestricting plates 90. On the other hand, as described above, acombination of the base parts 89 provided with the restricting plates 90is different, depending on the place of destination of the tonercontainer 21K. Accordingly, in other embodiments, four left base parts89 or four upper base parts 89 of the eight base parts 89 may beprovided with the restricting plates 90, for example. In addition, inother embodiments, the number of the restricting plates 90 may not befour. As described above, the combination of the base parts 89 providedwith the restricting plates 90 and the number of the restricting plates90 may be decided freely, depending on the place of destination of thetoner container 21K.

In the present embodiment, the configuration of the present disclosureis applied to the MFP 1. In other embodiments, the configuration of thepresent disclosure may be applied to an image forming apparatus otherthan the MFP 1, such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, orthe like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by theembodiments. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art canchange or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope andspirit of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A toner case comprising: a case main bodyconfigured to contain a toner and to rotate around a rotation axis line;a cover configured to cover an opening part arranged at the case mainbody and to maintain a rotation stop state when the case main bodyrotates, the cover having a communication space which communicates withan inside space of the case main body via the opening part; an agitatingmember configured to rotate integrally with the case main body and toagitate the toner in the communication space; and a seal member fixed tothe cover and configured to maintain a rotation stop state when the casemain body rotates, wherein the opening part is formed in a circularshape and arranged at one end part in a direction of the rotation axisline of the case main body, and an annular flange part protruding towardan outside in a radial direction is formed at the one end part in thedirection of the rotation axis line of the case main body and at anouter circumference of the opening part, wherein the agitating memberincludes: a fixed part interposed between the one end part in thedirection of the rotation axis line of the case main body and the sealmember; and an inserted part configured to protrude toward a side of thecommunication space with respect to the fixed part, at least a part ofthe inserted part being inserted into the communication space, andwherein an inside face in the direction of the rotation axis line of thefixed part is fixed to the one end part in the direction of the rotationaxis line of the case main body, and an outside face in the direction ofthe rotation axis line of the fixed part comes into contact with aninside face in the direction of the rotation axis line of the sealmember, wherein the fixed part is formed in an annular shape without anyopening in a circumferential direction, and wherein the agitating memberis composed of a resin film.
 2. The toner case according to claim 1,wherein the agitating member further includes an extending partconfigured to extend from the fixed part toward an inside in a radialdirection, and the inserted part is configured to extend from an insideend part in the radial direction of the extending part toward the sideof the communication space.
 3. The toner case according to claim 1,wherein the inserted part is configured to extend from the fixed parttoward the side of the communication space.
 4. The toner case accordingto claim 1, wherein a fixing face on which the one end part in thedirection of the rotation axis line of the case main body and the fixedpart are fixed is vertical to the rotation axis line.
 5. The toner caseaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover has a toner discharging portthrough which the toner is discharged from the communication space, anda distal end part of the agitating member is located right above thetoner discharging port.
 6. The toner case according to claim 1, whereina distal end part of the agitating member is curved in an arc shape. 7.The toner case according to claim 1, wherein, when the agitating memberrotates, the agitating member comes into contact with an inner face ofthe cover and scrapes the toner sticking to the inner face of the cover.8. An image forming apparatus comprising: the toner case according toclaim 1; and an attachment part to which the toner case is attached.